Austin-healey A Celebration Of The Fabulous 'big' Healey By Bill Piggott on 2040-parts.com

USED CAR PRICES FIRMER THAN IN SUMMER

USED CAR prices were firmer across most sectors between September and November than the previous 3 months, according to the used car pricing experts, CAP. The CAP Used Car Price Index also reveals an increase in values for 4x4s over the period while convertibles are hitting the doldrums. A reduction in the number of used cars available overall, at the benchmark 3 year old point, is helping to keep prices relatively stable in most cases.

Who's Where: GM's new Asian and European design studio appointments

New additions have been made to the design management teams at General Motors, both in Asia and in Europe. Effective today (August 1), Friedhelm Engler begins his new role as Director of Design for the Pan Asian Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), based in Shanghai, China.  He is responsible for all design related activities in the joint venture between General Motors and the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC).

One Lap of the Web: Rags to riches, Beetles to Porsches

-- Joseph MacDonald parked his 1965 Beetle in front of a restaurant 41 years ago, and that was the last time he saw it. He might yet see it again today, as his stolen car -- now painted white, and with even more rust -- will reunite with him, through the providence of border patrol officers actually performing some due diligence. Jason Torchinsky -- who knows a thing or two about stolen Beetles -- notes that he was lucky enough not to have waited 40 years for his car to come back.